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Software engineering programmes are not computer science programmes

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Annals of Software Engineering

Abstract

Programmes in “Software Engineering” have become a source of contention in many universities. Some Computer Science departments, many of which have used that phrase to describe individual courses for decades, claim software engineering as part of their discipline. However, Engineering faculties claim “Software Engineering” as a new speciality in the family of engineering disciplines. This paper discusses the differences between traditional computer science programmes and most engineering programmes and argues that we need programmes that follow the traditional engineering approach to professional education and educate engineers whose speciality within engineering is software construction. One such programme is described.

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Parnas, D.L. Software engineering programmes are not computer science programmes. Annals of Software Engineering 6, 19–37 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018949113292

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018949113292

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